Gordon- yeah it was freezing, the coldest I've ever been! The roads to Abashiri are actually kept fairly clear, although you have to be careful on the mountain roads about an hour and a bit out of Asahikawa. It takes between 3 and 4 hours to get there from Asahikawa by car, and perhaps slightly longer by train. The views, especially in the moutains, are amazing though, and there are lots of onsens that you can stop off at on the way.

Patti, its around -3/4 during the day but with a bitterly cold wind by the coast. At night the temperature drops significantly- nice for a few days but I wouldn't want to live there!

As for the atmosphere, I think you're right. One of the first things I noticed when driving out of the city in Hokkaido was how big the sky is, and on the day I visited Abashiri it was crystal clear, not a single cloud in the sky.

The photographs were minimally post-processed, with the sunset one having its colours deepened slightly, a bit of sharpening etc. But it really is that beautiful up there!

yes...Bob. I did not mean to minimize Steve's expertise..it is just that I can hardly believe how pretty that sky is..and thanks Steve, it is a place I will never be able to visit, if it weren't for your photos. I appreciate you posting them.

Hey Patti, don't say it's a place you'll never get to see! There's always a chance in the future! I hope so anyway as it's a lovely part of Japan which most people (including many Japanese!) rarely get to see...

As for the light, both our shots were taken in Winter (mine 13 months ago), and it's pretty clean up there, so I guess it's Winter light in a clean environment!

I could talk about Japan all day, its great! And a great place for a photographer- amazing sights and natural landscapes, and a very safe place so no worries about having expensive equipment stolen. I left my cellphone on the subway once, and it was handed in to station staff- in how many countries would that happen!?